The Rotor premiered in 1955 in Germany, built by Anton Schwarzkopf and operated by its inventor Ernst W. Hoffmeister of Hamburg. Many were built in quick succession around Europe, North America and Australia by different local companies under license.
In USA, although initially collaborating, makers and operators of Rotors became embroiled in a patent disagreement which appears to have been resolved by assigning the rights to build portable Rotors to the Velare Brothers (under the Hoffmeister patent) and the rights to stationary models to the Anglo Rotor Corporation (under the Myers patent). The Velare’s began touring two Rotors around 1954, while Anglo Rotor placed about five rides in parks as concessions. In 1956, stationary Rotors were located at Kennywood, Coney Island (Ohio), Long Beach, Riverview, and Rockaway’s Playland. To view more information on amusement ride and rollercoaster history, visit Victor Canfield’s well researched Amusement Ride Patents.
In the early 1970’s, Chance went on to manufacture a portable version of the Rotor still found in many US parks; made largely obsolete on the travelling circuit by Wisdom’s modern-day equivalent Gravitron
Like Gravitron, Rotor uses basic centrifugal force to pin its occupants to the outsides of the wooden cylinder. Once the optimum speed is reached and the riders are safely stuck to the wall, the operator (observing from above) lowers the floor, leaving riders high up the wall. As the cylinder gradually slows to a stop, riders slowly slide down the wall eventually landing on the lowered floor.
Eugh! lol puke ride!!! Again, we have a lot of travelling models in the UK, can hurt a bit if youre in an awkward position as the drum begins to spin…
Danny - July 22nd, 2009 at 5:33 am
I worked at Cedar Point during the summers in the mid 70’s After the park would close, we would get on the rotor and then try to turn 360 degrees while spinning I usually ended up on my head by the time the ride ended, but actually managed it once in 1976
steve - August 5th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Looking to buy a rotor for a park in bangalore india, childrens ,smaller and not portable needed- please advise trade leads, india manufacturers
J Michael - September 7th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
rode it couple years ago…. ouch, the floor drop too early, though still stuck to the wall we stayed in our place.
Ride enthuist - October 21st, 2009 at 4:41 am
I want to develop similer rides but which does not retract bottom. It is a taper bottom. After rotation starts if People tries to go to center & hold the piller, they fall on wall.
Can I get some thing from you
S D JOSHI - June 25th, 2010 at 9:27 pm
Dear J Michael,
Let us try tumbler nearby rotor which I am trying to develop
S D JOSHI - June 26th, 2010 at 1:40 am